A short guide for schools and group visits
Welcome to Shanklin Chine, the Island’s most historic tourist attraction. Originally opening to the public in 1817 it has been the destination for many childhood memories.
A few key and interesting facts about Shanklin Chine:
- What is a Chine? The word is of Saxon origin and is now only used here on the Isle of Wight and in Dorset (about 50 miles from the Island) and it means ‘a deep narrow ravine. Shanklin Chine is a natural valley carved in sandstone rocks by a stream, which rises in the hills behind Shanklin. At the top of the Chine, the stream drops down a waterfall and flows through the wooded valley 400 metres, to the sea.
- There are two waterfalls in the Chine, the tallest tumbles down 14 metres while the other falls 9 metres.
- Shanklin Chine is recognised as a site of importance for nature conservation (SINC). The Chine has its own microclimate. This means it has slightly different temperatures in a very small or restricted area and is different from the climate of the surrounding area. The Chine is a natural suntrap sheltered from the wind. Due to this microclimate there are many sub-tropical plants that grow here.
- The Chine has a long and well known history. The poet John Keats visited twice – in 1817 and 1819 where he wrote the poem ‘On the Sea’. He described his visit “The wondrous Chine here is a very great lion. I wish I had as many guineas as there have been spy glasses in it.” John Keats refers to Shanklin Chine in his great poem Endymion.
- Other well known visitors have included (the then future) Queen Victoria who, as a Princess, visited the Chine with her mother, the Duchess of Kent, in 1833. Also author Jane Austen and when she visited she said that Shanklin Chine ‘was lovely’.
- There is also a painting by artist JWM Turner called ‘Cottages on a Cliff’. It has been identified as Shanklin Chine in the early 19th Century.
- During World War II Shanklin Chine was celebrated for being used by the Royal Marine Commandos for training during the war. It was also the route for one of the branches of PLUTO – Pipe Line Under The Ocean. It supplied fuel for the allied forces in Normandy (France) following the invasion of France in June 1944. The image here shows a ceremony at the Commando Memorial with representatives of the Royal Marine Commandos alongside Anne Springman MBE, a Trustee of Shanklin Chine.
- Shanklin Chine has a wide variety of flora (plants) and fauna (animals). It is home to red squirrels, which the Isle of Wight is well known for, foxes, many small birds and even adders and the occasional heron have been spotted here.
- The Coastal Display Exhibition. This was created by geologist and historian Professor Robin McInnes OBE. The panels on the wall show the Island’s coastline and how it has changed over the years by ongoing erosion and weathering.
- Shanklin Chine’s history can be seen in the Chine Lodge (this was once called Honeymoon Cottage from the Victorian Era) where there is a room that is dedicated to the history of PLUTO.
- Shanklin Chine is open from late March until early November. It is then closed for the winter season. During the season, there are events and things to do at the Chine that the whole family will love.
School Trips
Shanklin Chine and the Heritage Centre form a splendid complex for school trips and parties to visit. The Chine is a beautiful and natural geographic phenomenon, with a swiftly flowing stream running through a sandstone gorge, tumbling over a series of waterfalls on its path to the sea. It is a haven for wildlife and plants; students can benefit greatly from the unique woodland and stream surroundings.
The Shanklin Esplanade entrance also known as the “Bottom Box” is the entrance to use for all school groups which is situated off the Esplanade / Sea Front.
For school trip enquiries, please email office@shanklinchine.co.uk
Teaching Development
Geography
- The life of a river and its three stages.
- The formation of sandstone and the ‘sedimentary cycle’.
- Different types of sandstone in other parts of the country.
- The use of sandstone in the building industry.
Art
- Displays of specimens from trees, e.g. leaf prints, bark rubbings, pictures of twigs, flowers, fruits, catkins.
Drama
- Enact stories of smuggling; make up a play about a smuggler who is caught.
English
- Stories of smuggling at the Chine.
- Write about life in Shanklin before the coming of the railway.
- Imaginative stories of plants or animals of the Chine.
The Coastal Educational Display
- The Coastal Educational Display moved to the Chine last year and is a great resource for school parties.
History
- Development of the tourism industry on the Isle of Wight.
- The history and development of Shanklin.
- The story of PLUTO and the use of Shanklin Chine to deliver petrol to the forces in Europe during the Second World War.
Biology
- Plants and animals of woodland and river habitats; their dependence on each other and their places in the food chain.
- The evolution of plant life and how it gradually came to live away from water.
- Reproduction of non-flowering plants.
Have you seen?
The Waterfalls, The Stone Bridge, PLUTO, The Coastal Display, The Viewpoint and Telescope, The Victorian Brine Bath, The Stocks, The Canon, The Dinosaurs, The Giant Eggs, The PLUTO Room, Antiques and Souvenir Shop, Café Chine and Terrace, Commando Memorial, After dark… the illuminations
Visits by schools and other groups are always very welcome.
Pupils can relax and explore all the special points of interest the Chine has to offer.
Enjoy our coastal climate, with its generous share of sunshine.
Opening Times:
26th March to 31st August: 10am – 10pm (last entry 9:30pm).
1st September to 1st November: 10am – 9pm (last entry 8:30pm).